Willow nodded, trying to keep his face normal. "Y-yes."
"Please come with me. I'll show you the way," she was about to walk but noticed Adelia behind him.
"And who are you, miss?"
"Adelia... Adelia Astor."
"I'm sorry, the guest asked for only Willow Astor to be let in. I'm afraid you'll have to wait in the hotel lobby or go back."
Adelia gulped nervously and looked at Willow uncertainly. Sure, she wasn't much help, but still, her being there could at least provide him some sense of security, reminding him that he wasn't alone. Without her, he'll truly be alone. After all, all this time, they've only really had each other.
Willow removed his hand from hers. "I'm okay... I'm okay, Adel. Wait in the lobby, I'll be back."
"But—"
"I'll be back, really. After sorting it all out," he silently assured her and walked away, even waving her bye as the door closed.
Adelia waved back, tears welling in her eyes.
'Will, I know you'll sort it out. I know you can outsmart whoever this sick bastard is and save us all. I'm just a pretty face, but... you're so smart! I know you can do it... you can, right?'
'I can, and I will. I promise you I'll fix all this.'
'...I know you will find a way. You always do.' Adelia looked at him with trust in her eyes and watched as the elevator doors closed, Willow's figure disappearing behind the metal wall.
The woman who led Willow knocked on a door. "Mr. Sander, Willow Astor is here."
The person on the other side replied leisurely, "Let him in, Alicia."
Alicia nodded expressionlessly before opening the door. She stood by the side, prompting him to go in.
Willow took heavy steps, entering the lavishly decorated hotel room.
"Oh, hello there. We finally meet, Willow Astor," the guy held a glass and leisurely swirled the wine as he looked at him, no trace of panic in his gaze.
"Kind of out of context, but should you really be drinking? I mean, you surely don't look of age."
He seemed to have struck a nerve as his hands tensed. He dropped the glass without a care and stood up, anger evident on his face.
"I'm just short, okay! I'm definitely of age!"
"You're like, shorter than me. That's like, very, very short."
"...Shut up! Shut up!" he huffed, "Can't you just let me enjoy my epic introduction moment in peace?! Is that too much to ask for?!"
"But—"
"Not another word!" he coughed before sitting down, regaining his relaxed manner. He said, "I'm very calm, okay. Very calm, like this all doesn't matter to me. The cool, collected type of person—"
"You literally got mad at me for asking your age."
"S-shut up!"
He poured himself another glass of wine, probably to do the swirly thing again.
"Now, I'm going to—"
"Hey! Give it back!"
Willow held it upward, out of his reach. He shook his head at his request and said, "No, no. You don't look old enough. Children shouldn't play around with such things."
"Alcohol is a very, very bad thing. Don't play around with it again."
The villain puffed his face, cheeks getting red. He cried, "Willow Astor, you're going to regret this!"
Willow saw that he was upset and tried to think of a solution to appease him. Well, this guy was the main villain. Even though he's short, hot-tempered, and totally unlike a villain, he's the greatest threat to them. Making him hate Willow even more than he already does wasn't a good idea.
Although Willow might be someone who panics at little things and thinks of himself first, he still couldn't bear to see a literal child going on a path of alcoholism. He had to save him, even if it was the main villain. Their life is already so short; he's trying to make it even shorter.